ASEAN begins 2000 countdown

ASEAN begins 2000 countdown

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) began on Friday the 100 Days to the Year 2000 countdown
in Indonesia with a contemporary production of Realizing Rama, a
story from the epic Ramayana, a statement from the ASEAN
Secretariat said on Wednesday.

It said the performance was a collaborative effort involving
artists and dancers from the association's 10 member countries:
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is hosting the Sept. 23
and Sept. 24 evening performances at Gedung Wayang in Taman Mini
Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta. A workshop will also be held by
the artists at Mal Taman Anggrek on Friday morning.

The ASEAN countdown will serve as a medium to generate wider
support for ASEAN's activities, which include a series of
projects and expositions over the next 100 days.